Guide

21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA)

Background

On October 8, 2010, President Obama signed the Twenty-First Century
Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) into law. The CVAA updates
federal communications law to increase the access of persons with disabilities
to modern communications. The CVAA makes sure that accessibility laws enacted in
the 1980s and 1990s are brought up to date with 21st century technologies,
including new digital, broadband, and mobile innovations. The following are
highlights of the new law.

Requires access to web browsers on mobile devices by people who are blind or
visually impaired (a “ramp” to the Internet on mobile devices).

Creates industry recordkeeping obligations; requires changes to complaint and
enforcement procedures; tightens deadlines for the FCC to respond to consumer
complaints; requires biennial reporting by the FCC to Congress; and directs the
Comptroller General to issue a five-year report on the FCC’s implementation.

Requires an FCC clearinghouse on accessible communications services and
equipment.

Updates the definition of telecommunications relay services (TRS) to include
people who are deaf-blind and to allow communication between and among different
types of relay users.

Requires interconnected and non-interconnected VoIP service providers to
contribute to the Interstate TRS Fund.

Directs the allocation of up to $10 million per year from the Interstate TRS
Fund for the distribution of specialized equipment to low-income people who are
deaf-blind, to enable these individuals to access telecommunications service,
Internet access service, and advanced communications.

Authorizes FCC action to ensure reliable and interoperable access to next
generation 9-1-1 services by people with disabilities.

Title II – Video Programming

Restores video description rules promulgated by the FCC in 2000 and
authorizes some expansion of those obligations over the next 10+ years.

Requires video programming that is closed captioned on TV to be closed
captioned when distributed on the Internet (does not cover programs shown only
on the Internet).

Establishes deadlines for the FCC to respond to requests for exemption
from the closed captioning rules.

Requires video programming distributors, providers, and owners to convey
emergency information in a manner that is accessible to people who are blind
or visually impaired.

Expands the requirement for video programming equipment (equipment that
shows TV programs) to be capable of displaying closed captions, to devices
with screens smaller than 13 inches (e.g., portable TVs, laptops, smart
phones), and requires these devices to be able to pass through video
descriptions and emergency information that is accessible to people who are
blind or visually impaired, if technically feasible and achievable.

Requires devices designed to record TV programs to pass through closed
captions, video description, and emergency information so viewers are able to
turn on/off the closed captions and video description when the TV program is
played back, if achievable.

Requires interconnection mechanisms (cables) to carry (from the source
device to the consumer equipment – e.g., TV set) the information necessary to
permit the display of closed captions and make video description and emergency
information audible.

Requires user controls for TVs and other video programming devices to be accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired, and requires TVs and other video programming devices to have a button, key, icon, or comparable mechanism designated for activating closed captioning and video description.

Requires on-screen text menus and program guides displayed on TV by set-top boxes to be accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired and requires set-top boxes to have a button, key, icon, or comparable mechanism designated for activating closed captioning (when built-in to the set-top box).

For More Information

For more information about the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, you may visit the FCC’s Disability Rights Office website. For information about other communications issues, visit the FCC’s Consumers website, or contact the FCC’s Consumer Center by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice, 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to:

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